'In the Northern American territories that have not fallen to the Madness, as well as their Southern neighbours, the penalty for soul eating is death. Of course, as with many laws in such areas, it is often a formality. There are more than enough tales of militaries and mercenary groups trying to recruit soul eaters. The sinking of 'Her Majesty's Unsinkable' is a well-known tale, where a dreadnought full of captive and volunteering soul eaters mutinied and commandeered the ship, and afterwards became a dreaded nautical legend as infamous as 'The Flying Dutchman'.

In older days, the mere suspicion of soul eating was cause for lynchings, though more often than not victims of such lynchings were innocents, mere scapegoats and victims of deeper societal issues. In the chance that an area did manage to correctly lynch a soul eater, consequences were grave. The Kishin's forces would quickly descend on the settlement, and their souls would be reaped. The reasons for such swift and decisive responses were varied and lost to anyone but the commanding officers, ranging from fear of knowledge spreading about the correct identification of soul eaters, to a mere madness after-effect from the Kishin losing a potential Egg.

A big reason for all the incorrect executions is the difficulty of identifying a soul eater. For most, there is an obvious change at the last stage of the process when already many souls have been consumed and it transforms into a Kishin Egg. The soul eater's body undergoes drastic changes, as beautifully illustrated in my esteemed colleague's anthology, 'Compendium of Calamitous Creatures' by Dr C. C. Collins. However, there are many accounts of Kishin Eggs that maintain their outward ordinary appearance. For such cases, as well as soul eaters that have not consumed the required number of souls, detecting them is near impossible. Rumours of people being able to perceive souls include an inability to differentiate between a 'pure' and a 'corrupted' soul at everything but the final Kishin Egg stage. In summary, though Kishin Eggs are easily detected, no one can tell which soul is at the early stages of becoming one, with one exception:

Death.'

Heloise Mortenson, A Brief History of Crime and Punishment

\*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*/

Chapter 36: Line Them Up

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Kid was aimlessly walking around the academy in the dead of night.

His chamber had been unguarded, with those who served as guards probably serving another more needed guard duty, especially now that their forces were depleted.

After his confrontation with Theodore, the two had stayed apart. Last Kid heard Theodore was meeting up with the envoy of a nearby town, probably to recruit more people in the Academy's ranks. Now though, when it was closer to dawn than dusk Theodore was away in his chamber, nearby to the Grim Reaper's. Kid had confirmed the High Priest had been there with his Soul Perception.

Speaking of which, Joe's soul was a distance away from him. The man had been stubbornly pursuing him for the past half hour and Kid had been avoiding him for just as long. Considering the ungodly time it was and that Theodore had been asleep for a while now, he probably wanted to make sure that Kid was safe and also why he was wandering.

Whatever. Joe could go after him for as long as he wanted. Kid didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

"I'm telling you, I can't let you in," came a voice around a corner and Kid paused. Focusing his Soul Perception away from Joe's soul to his front, he sensed Patty close to another human.

Curious, Kid stopped just around the corner and took a peek.

The first he saw was Patty's back as she stood tall, back straightened. A person was facing her, probably a guard. Her back was against the same large door Kid had encountered back when Maka and the rest had escaped.

This was the entrance to the dungeons, Kid realised. Patty was probably trying to see her sister.

Patty stood unmoving, probably staring at the guard. The older woman shifted nervously. "I'm just following orders."

Kid felt a pang of guilt. Even if Liz was a danger, Patty at least deserved to see her.

Though Kid couldn't, wouldn't free Liz, not at her state, he could at least make sure she wasn't alone, even for a little while. Who knows seeing her sister might even help Liz.

Kid stepped outside the corner and walked towards the dungeon's entrance, face blank. The moment the guard saw the Grim Reaper, her eyes widened, and she stood at attention.

"Lord Death," the guard said with a salute.

As Kid walked by Patty, she kept his back on him. Kid glanced at her before turning to the guard. "Let us in."

The guard hesitated, but under the Grim Reaper's persisting gaze, she stepped aside apologetically.

Patty dashed in, not saying a word to Kid. With a resigned sigh, he followed after her; it wouldn't do for Patty to get lost. Liz would have his head if she found that out.

As if she had memorised the layout of the dungeons, Patty trudged through the narrow dimly lit hallways, Kid in tow. Any guards they encountered tried to stop Patty until the Grim Reaper came into their view.

At one point Patty stood at a crossroads and Kid took the lead, guiding her towards Liz's soul. Patty stayed silent and the further into the dungeons Kid walked the more he was regretting his decision?

Was Kid making a mistake? Was he just putting Patty in danger? Was there any point in Patty visiting her sister? Was Liz too far gone?

They passed by another guard to end up in a dead-end. A lone torch was hung where the corridor ended, illuminating a cage built under it, the entrance barely big enough for a heavyset person to crawl in. A precaution against a Kishin Egg throwing itself onto the cage and breaking the metal bars.

Kid stopped a few meters away from the cage while Patty rushed at it. The torch only illuminated just a few centimetres into the cage, while the rest remained in the darkness. Though he could see Liz's soul, he couldn't see her; she had retreated further into the cage.

As Patty squatted next to the entrance, Kid grimaced. Liz, despite her less than pleasant disposition and seemingly fearless attitude, was scared of the dark, among other equally pedestrian things. For her to retreat further in the cell instead of standing at its edge where the light was…

"Heya sis," Patty calmly said. It was strange, hearing her so subdued. "It's me," she said as she extended her hand through the bars and into the cage.

Kid took a step forward in concern. Even if Patty was her sister, Liz was unstable so she should at least keep a safe distance.

There was movement from Liz's cage and Kid froze. After a few shuffling sounds, Liz's hand, its nails still bloody from when she'd dug them at the poor man's chest, reached out and gently clasped Patty's.

"Patty…" Liz's voice was raspy and low.

Kid failed to hold back a frown. Hadn't Liz been given her water? Something to eat? He made a mental note to intimidate one of the guards into giving Liz some food and drink.

His thoughts of chastising whoever was responsible for Liz's possible malnutrition were broken when Patty reached out with her other hand and Liz grasped that as well.

Patty let out a small smile at the gesture and Kid couldn't help but smile as well. Since Liz not only recognised her sister but also acted friendly, if not subdued towards her, then there was still hope.

Thank goodness.

Hopeful, Kid approached the cage as well. "Liz-"

Scuffling sounds came from the cage and Liz retracted her hands as if they'd been burned. A few unintelligible grumbles came from the cell before it went completely quiet.

Kid stepped back looked at Patty, apologetic. The younger sister had her gaze fixed on the cell, face unreadable.

Right. He should probably leave those two alone for a while. Still…

Kid opened the lantern and took out the candle inside. It had barely been used and would burn for a couple of hours. He gave it Patty, who carefully passed it through the bars. Even if Liz didn't want to see him, he could at least try and improve her living conditions, even if it only for a few hours.

Soundlessly and with a dark lantern by his side, Kid headed back where the dead-end joined with the rest of the dungeons. The Grim Reaper stood by the corner, keeping a lookout for any guards that might approach. Hints of whispers came from the dead-end. Hopefully, Patty had managed to make Liz approach her again so they could talk.

Honestly, what had Kid been thinking? Of course Liz would want to see Patty. Her younger sister was the apple of Liz's eye. Kid was the one who'd given the order to imprison her, and even if it was the best he could do for Liz, or at least Kid thought so and his judgement wasn't always up to par, she obviously didn't see it that way.

"I'll come visit you again, sis," came Patty's voice after a few minutes. Kid sensed Patty head out of the dead-end and straightened his back, ready to guide her outside and back into her room.

The two walked in silence, Kid glad for the few torches that meant they weren't walking in complete darkness. Though he could see well in the dark, a trait that he always had, but had been strengthened after the Ritual, Patty might come across some trouble. Even if she wasn't scared like her older sister, she might difficulty navigating the dark passages.

"Kid."

Kid froze and his first thought was to hiss at Patty not to call him that. Though they were at the dungeons at night, and though Kid avoided the passages with people, there was still a paranoid feeling that they might be overheard.

"Sis is sick isn't she?" Patty continued, and thoughts of chastisement went out the window.

Kid turned around to see Patty with her head low, eyes obscured by her eyes. "Yes."

Patty's hands balled into fists. "And she has to stay away so she won't hurt other people, right?"

"Yes. If she eats any souls, she'll get worse."

Noiselessly, Patty nodded in confirmation, lips a tight line.

Kid also looked away. There wasn't anything more he could say, except some empty promises-

"She's been sick for a long time," Patty let out. "Patty knew but she couldn't stop her and now-"

Before Patty could say anything more, Kid stepped forward and held her shoulder tight. "It's not your fault." If anything, perhaps if Kid had acted sooner…

Patty ran her forearm across her eyes and sniffed. "Sis just wanted to protect me."

Kid looked away. He should give Patty a few moments to compose herself. Perhaps if he knew more about Liz's soul eating… "How long has Liz been eating souls?"

"Ever since we left mommy. She was mean, especially to me." Patty scratched her neck, finally raising her head. Her eyes were puffy and red but her expression was one of stubborn nonchalance, features squashed in a seeming dreamy look. "Sis came into my room and she was bloody and she didn't want us to leave by the front door, so we tied our bedsheets and left through the window."

Kid's expression fell. He had a feeling more had happened between Liz and her mother. Whether Patty knew and if she did, why she was not telling him were things Kid could only speculate about.

"It was fun though!" Patty said in what was obviously fake cheer. "We were like princesses escaping our castle and uh…" Patty's cheer lessened at Kid's unchanged expression. Eventually, she let out an exasperated sigh. "You and sis are such sourpusses…"

"What happened with Liz later?" Kid asked. Though the attempt to cheer him up was appreciated, it wasn't necessary. He'd be fine.

"So sis and I lived in the streets and it was easy at first cause we're cool-ass guns and people were scared of those..."

"You were certainly intimidating," Kid said under his breath.

Evidently, Kid's voice was inside Patty's hearing range, as she looked down with a pout and fiddled with her fingers. "Oh. I'm sorry sis tried to eat your soul kiddo…"

Kid raised an eyebrow. Though it was certainly a late and rather unneeded apology, Patty was genuine about it.

"But yeah, we were scary but there were scarier monsters out there in the streets with us and sis was worried," Patty continued, still fiddling with her fingers. "And one day one of the monsters tried to eat us but sis and I managed to run away but it was still scary."

"So Liz kept eating souls to get stronger and fight back against the monsters," Kid continued and Patty nodded.

"We got a few monsters too and sis ate their souls as well but she said she didn't like the taste."

So, Liz hadn't only eaten pure souls. Perhaps that was why she still hadn't become a Kishin Egg yet. Or maybe Liz was that stubborn not to give in completely, holding out even now when her sister visited her… Still, if she kept eating then she'd pass the point of no return and then the only option they'd had would be to-

"I don't…" Patty choked and she let out another sniff. "I don't want sis to do bad things anymore but I don't want her to get hurt…"

"Me too."

"But we can't do that can we?" Patty asked with another sniff as she rubbed her eyes. "Sis is gonna get killed here, but if I free her she's gonna eat more and turn into a monster…"

Had Patty been thinking of breaking out her sister? Was that why she'd visited Liz? But she hadn't tried anything of the sort, so maybe she'd changed her mind halfway?

"She's not," Kid reassured Patty. "Liz will not be hurt by the Academy I'll make sure of it. And…" The plan he had in mind that he hadn't told anyone. The proposal of his that had been discouraged but not ruled impossible…

"I think I've come up with a way that can help her," Kid carefully said. "I haven't tried it out but if I manage to extract the souls Liz has eaten…"

Patty raised her eyebrows. "Sis won't turn into a monster?"

"No," Kid answered, looking away in thought. "If I extract every soul she has eaten then I don't think she'll try to eat another one-"

Before he realised what was happening, Patty was dragging him along the dungeons back where they'd come from. "What are we waiting for, let's go do it!"

Kid dug his feet at the ground and pushed back, causing them both to stop. "Wait-"

Patty looked back at Kid with a lost and urgent expression. "Sis is right here-"

"It's too early," Kid quickly said, "I've only just come up with it and I need to figure out how to do it, if it's safe, if it'll hurt Liz-" Oh dear, now that he was saying them out loud there were so many holes in his so-called plan-

"But you'll do it?" Patty insisted.

Kid took a few moments to answer, trying to gather his thoughts. "Once I make sure it's safe and it works." If it worked, but Kid didn't want to disappoint Patty any further.

Disappointed, Patty let go of his hand and looked back to where they'd come from, to where Liz was.

"We'll figure it out," Kid said, barely able to give Patty a reassuring smile, "alright?"

"Promise?" Still facing away from him, Patty's voice was low and uncharacteristically even.

Even if he knew Patty couldn't see him, Kid placed a hand on his chest. "I promise."

"You shouldn't break a promise," Patty continued in that same foreign neutral tone.

"I won't."

Silence fell between them.

"I was right!" As if it was never gone, Patty's bubbly smile was plastered on her face. "You're alright, kiddo." She gave him a playful light poke at his temple. "You're smart, you'll figure it out."

With a giggle, she wrapped one hand around Kid's shoulders and strutted back towards the exit. Kid had no option but to follow her, settling for walking normally and being extra careful in making sure they wouldn't stumble into anyone.

Though somewhat cheered, a new set of worries bubbled in Kid's mind. Even if he did manage to perfect extracting souls, that'd mean the Academy's -and by extension Theodore's- preferred way of dealing with soul eaters, i.e. killing them as if they were Kishin Eggs, would have to be curtailed to an extent. He didn't even have to think too hard about what the consequences of that would be, what suspicions would be cast on him. Worst case scenario, if the soul-extracting did not work at all, and Kid was exposed…

"Patricia," Kid spoke up and the one in conscious stopped their cheerful humming. "If something happens to me, you get Liz and run," he said, looking away even when Patty's hold on him became tighter. "Restrain her first to stop her from eating souls, but don't stay here."

When Kid did eventually look at Patty, her expression was a pout with a hint of concern. "Ok…"

Satisfied, Kid was about to disengage from the almost-headlock hold Patty had him in, only to find the hold reinforced with renewed strength.

"But I'll come back for you too, kiddo," Patty nonchalantly said before she squashed her cheek against his. "Partners in crime."

Kid nodded. "Partners."

"In crime?" Patty insisted.

Kid looked away thoughtful. "Well, I suppose we would technically be criminals for moral objections to a law…"

"Partners in crime!" Patty announced and gave Kid a tight hug, which he reciprocated, minus the rib-crushing part.

Even when Kid shushed her not to yell, her giggles just turned louder like a feat of reverse psychology. Maybe it was purposeful, as Kid did find himself considerably cheered up.

The future was looking brighter and more certain by the minute.

\*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*/

The next morning, just when the sun had barely risen, Kid ran through the Academy like a madman, chest heaving with effort. He passed by guards, staff each one more surprised by the rest to see the Grim Reaper. Their unimportant faces melded to one another as the only thing in Kid's mind was reaching that gathering of souls outside the Academy.

Finally, he reached the massive set of staircases that lead to an equally enormous entrance. A few people were gathered by the open gates, looking down at the square where seemingly the entire settlement had gathered.

Ignoring any cries and ensuing chatter, Kid strode past them, the group of people opening up and away from him as if they were magnetically repulsed.

He had almost made it to the exit when a single person didn't move away from him. Joe. "Lord Death-?"

Kid stood by him, overlooking the square. "When?"

Now that he was standing still, the feeling Kid has been awakened by only intensified. He felt it like an itch on his arm, a barely perceptible lump in his throat, a slight pressure at his chest…

Death. Not yet performed, but incoming. A whole lot of it. He had felt it during the assault but had ignored it as general nervousness, a similar event occurring during his visit to the Grave Colonies.

Joe looked at Kid then back at the square. "Right now…"

Before Joe could say anything more Kid strode past him and descended the stairs that lead away from the Academy. Anyone less coordinated and purposeful would have stepped on the black cloak wrapped around him and go down tumbling, but Kid simply didn't have time for this nonsense.

The harsh morning sun beat down on him, as his ears buzzed with the sounds of the gathered crowd jeering a line of people on a raised platform, along with a small group adjacent to it surrounded by guards.

Kid was halfway on the Academy's massive Mayan pyramid-like stairs when he was noticed.

Like a ripple, the crowd went silent. Whether it was because they recognised the black cloak, unusual hair or just a general sense of unease, Kid did know or care at this moment. Considering he had dashed out his room in a hurry, only managing to grab a cloak with him and not even bothering with the mask, it was a miracle he had been recognised at all.

Like before, the guards stepped away from him, even as he approached the raised wooden platform.

Uncaring, Kid stepped up on the platform and marched throughout the lined people, not sparing a glance at anyone. He only had to glance at one of the lined-up people, a grimacing middle-aged woman with a rope tied around her neck for his arm to itch again.

As he walked through the platform some of the lined-up people went pale. Some cried and whimpers as the Grim Reaper passed them by, others kept quiet with stoic expressions. The executors shared uncomfortable glances.

Finally, at the centre of the platforms and towards the crowd stood Theodore, elevated on a small perch, like a God reigning down judgement and guidance.

The moment the Grim Reaper entered the High Priest's line of sight he stepped down from the perch and gave Kid a deep bow.

"Milord-"

"Who are they?"

"What few people we managed to capture from the assault," Theodore said, reciprocating the Grim Reaper's scowl with a disapproving expression his own. "Soul eaters."

His scowl not softening one bit, Kid switched his gaze to the lined-up people, activating his Soul Perception. Both prisoners and guards squirmed and looked away from the Grim Reaper's gaze, especially when his scowl deepened.

Theodore's words were partially true. Some of the lined-up souls did show signs of corruption, the same ones Liz had-

"Not all of them." Before Theodore could say anything else, Kid looked back at him and the High Priest gave the Grim Reaper another bow. "Why was I not informed of this?"

"I saw it as unnecessary, milord," Theodore apologetically said, still bowing. "But if you do wish to be present from now own, or perhaps do the deed yourself then it will be as you wish-"

"No such thing will occur today."

Theodore looked up from the bow, expression stuck somewhere between shock and disbelief. "…Excuse me, milord? These people are all soul eaters-"

"I am aware," Kid cut him off. "But they don't necessarily need to be killed."

Theodore rose up, all of his previous composure gone. "What?"

"Call off the execution," Kid continued, keeping his tone even. "Put the soul eaters in the dungeons for now. In addition, there are people who have not consumed souls in these prisoners, so I expect they will be released-"

"They're wanted for other crimes. Murder, treason-"

"Then hand them to the relevant authorities, or keep them imprisoned. Not executed."

"You do not act on them for killing but forbid us from doing so?"

"It's as if I expect people working for me to have some standards," Kid shot back, his irritation getting the better of him. "Besides I will not let the soul eaters go free. I have plans. Have them under lock and key in the dungeons. I will be there shortly."

Theodore and Kid stared at each other. Eventually, Theodore broke eye contact and barked a few orders at the guards and they set upon undoing the ropes tied around the prisoners. The crowd, a mix of staff, students, their families and other locals was still relatively quiet, though buzzing with gossip and rumours.

Satisfied Kid turned away and headed back up at the Academy stairs, aiming to catch a breather and eventually prepare for his first soul extraction.

Normally, Kid would have been a lot more diplomatic about this. Normally, Kid would have shared more of his plans with Theodore.

Not this time though. This time it felt like a line was about to be crossed, a line Kid would not tolerate any crossing, especially when calling upon his nature as the Grim Reaper.

'Better'. That was what he'd been described as. Better than the feared Death of old. Not to mention trusted by Patty…

Kid had no option but to put his plan in motion. He had no option but for it to be perfect. He had no option but to go through what once were vague plans and half-baked proposals.

Extracting the eaten souls from a soul eater. If it worked…

On his way towards the Academy's main entrance, he noticed Joe halfway through the stairs, the man discussing with a few gathered staff and giving Kid an utterly confused look. Right, he'd have to inform Joe of his plans. Though at this stage, perhaps it would be faster if he came to the dungeons with him-

Kid had barely reached a quarter up the stairs when he felt it; an ethereal wind rushed through him as his hair and cloak fluttered in a non-existent breeze. The Grim Reaper felt his Soul Wavelength course through the area and froze in place. Joe, who had taken notice of the change in attitude, stared questioningly in Kid.

Shouts, accompanied by yells, cries and more of that ethereal wind came from the platform, as groups of people move back and forth like a wave.

Kid turned around and practically hopped down the stairs. On his way he passed by the first set of guards, all of them pointing their Weapons at the soul eaters, the latter on their knees and with hands on their heads.

Going up the platform, Kid came across a corpse missing its head. Judging from the chains at their legs, they were a soul eater. A few more were on the platform, one's corpse dripping blood at the square, where the crowds had already retreated in fear and shock.

A yell cut short drew Kid's gaze to where some people were still fighting. A man was on the ground, soul eater, clutching an arm that was cut and bleeding just below the elbow. Another guard dragged a screaming and thrashing middle-aged woman by the hair, the same woman that had been lined up before.

Several Meisters pinned her to the ground while another one raised their Weapon, a gleaming axe, just above her neck. She shut her eyes tight just when the Meister made a move forward-

"Enough!"

Just as the axe was falling down, Kid caught it by the blade and swung it away, arcing above the would-be executioner's head. The executioner fell backwards, his Weapon tumbling down and transforming into her human form.

The woman kept her eyes closed in expectation for a few seconds, eventually opening them in confusion. Her gaze then landed on the Grim Reaper and any colour that she had regained was instantly drained.

"¡Tener compassion-!"

Kid barely spared a glance at her, no matter how the cry for mercy reverberated in his skull. Satisfied that the soul eater was restrained, he strode to where the Meister and Weapon pair were, the former helping the latter get up.

The Meister, a young Caucasian man and the Weapon, a slightly older Hispanic woman, both gulped as the Grim Reaper approached them, he Weapon going as far as to step in front of her Meister.

"What happened?" the Grim Reaper said through gritted teeth.

The Meister gulped and took a few steps back, his sole reaching the edge of the platform.

The Weapon stood her ground, her back ramrod-straight, though there were drops of sweat lining her forehead. "They tried to escape-"

"¡No lo hicimos-!" the soul eater cried out in indignation.

"¡Lo hiciste!" the Weapon yelled back.

"And you saw fit to take matters into your own hands?" Kid cut them both off, not particularly interested in how much of an escape attempt there truly was. What he had just seen was the attempted execution of a completely immobilised opponent, soul eater or not.

Soul eaters were not Kishin Eggs. Not yet. If Kid's plan worked, they'd never become one.

The Meister stepped forward, though he was still covered behind his Weapon. "Sir, it was the High Priest's orders-"

"Whose?"

"T-The High Priest's sir," the Meister repeated, looking helplessly at the other end of the platform where Theodore was. "I didn't see it clearly but there was a scuffle and he ordered us to… kill all the soul eaters…" he trailed off at the Grim Reaper's increasingly deep scowl.

Wordlessly, kid turned away to face the opposite side of the platform where a stunned crowd stood. More likely than not they had just seen the Grim Reaper's save a Soul Eater's life and were understandably confused at the reasoning and motivation behind such an action.

Good. Kid was more than eager to inform them, especially a certain robe-wearing maniac.

Not that he had no other option. This was the tipping point. Kid had to start voicing his opposition and make his position known. He couldn't bring himself to brush the matter aside. This was where he had to make his stand. If not for his own sake as a better Grim Reaper, then for Liz's sake.

"Theodore Barzai!" Kid yelled at the Academy crowd. The people next to them, soul eater included, flinched and left, or were bodily-dragged, away as a familiar elderly person solely came forward.

Kid didn't mind that he was causing a scene. The more people saw the divide between the Grim Reaper and the High Priest, the better in establishing a possible support base. Not everyone here seemed to be the murderous sort. Even among those who were a bit too trigger-happy may have a more reverent attitude towards Death; Kid could sway them to his side by publicly showing the High Priest was going against the Grim Reaper's word.

Theodore solemnly marched to the Grim Reaper, head lowered.

Kid put his hands behind his back and took a calming breath. Yelling would do him no good; he had to be composed. Angry, but collected.

"Tell me, Theodore, you are my High priest, correct?"

Theodore nodded. "Yes, milord."

"And, as such, your duty is to enforce Death's will, which is my will, correct?"

"…Yes, milord," the High Priest said after a few seconds.

"You hesitated for a moment there, Theodore. Tell me, do you think you have the right to twist my words?" Kid gave the man his coldest glare as he willed his Soul Wavelength to manifest in cackling shadows encasing his form. "Or do you doubt my identity as the Grim Reaper?"

Theodore bowed deeper at the display, going so far as to fall to his knees in supplication. A few staff copied him. "You are Death, milord. The One and Only."

"Good, so at least we got that part down," Kid replied in an even tone. "Rise up. I like to look people in the eye when I talk to them."

In the ensuing silence, Theodore slowly stood up with a grunt, but still kept his head low.

Kid narrowed his eyes at the man. "So, since I am Death and you are my servant, why did you disobey me?"

Theodore slightly raised his head. "Milord, I do not see how I disobeyed you-"

"You ordered the killing of the soul eaters-"

"They tried to escape-!"

"All fifteen of them? In disparate groups?" Kid insisted and Theodore went silent. "Not to mention that what I witnessed was the almost execution of one who had been completely immobilised."

"These were not my orders," Theodore eventually said, frame slightly slumping.

"Were they not?" Kid eyed the Meister-Weapon duo, who had wisely taken several steps away from the Grim Reaper. "I've been informed otherwise-"

"He did tell us!" the Meister said, pointing an accusatory finger at the High Priest.

"Hold your tongue boy! Do not dare interrupt-!"

"What," Kid cut him off, causing both men to go silent, "did you order? I want your exact words."

This time Theodore did look up to the Grim Reaper, his expression a mix of outrage and helplessness. Eventually, he stood up and said with a sigh, "kill them."

"I see."

"I heard the sounds of fighting and I assumed the worst," Theodore continued, voice strained. "I had no option but to give such orders."

Kid took a calming breath. Theodore was cooperating with him. There was progress, but he had to be careful as well. "If only the soul eaters that had attempted and were close to escaping were the ones killed, I would… understand." In actuality, Kid would still be angry, but he had to compromise, no matter how sour of a taste that left in his mouth. "But why did you not retract your order? If I had not intervened how many of them would have been killed?"

Theodore gave him no answer and Kid narrowed his eyes.

"I explicitly told you to leave their fates in the state and its laws. Yet you decided to take manners into your own hands, and even worse, claim your reckless decision reflected my opinion." Kid scowled even though Theodore hadn't raised his head. "Surely, a person of your intellect can understand the implications of such actions? Or do I have to work with a simpleton?"

The last phrase was anything but true. Theodore had been proven to be a shrewd man and politician. Kid still wasn't exactly sure why the man decided to so openly defy Kid; maybe the years of wielding such influence and outranking everyone had instilled a sense of superiority which had persisted even if there now was another being who outranked him. No matter what it was, Theodore had overextended, and Kid was milking the opening for all he could. They were both aware of the public nature of their argument and its possible political effects.

"Milord," Theodore eventually spoke up, "if we let them they will only try to escape again-"

"So it is disobedience, then?" Kid had to be careful here; directly accusing the High Priest of treason would get him nowhere; in fact, it might as well cause Theodore to go all-out on Kid right here right now when he had no idea where most loyalties lay.

"Never, milord," Theodore quickly said. "Simply the apparently erroneous judgement of a faithful servant." He concluded his grumbled apology with another bow.

Kid Raised an eyebrow. That was technically still disobedience, but there was no point in hounding Theodore any more. He looked like he had learned his lesson, somewhat. "Make sure this does not happen again."

"As you wish…" Theodore trailed off. Kid tensed in anticipation. "Milord," the High Priest eventually added and Kid felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders. He had control of the situation. Hopefully, it wouldn't fall apart again.

The Grim Reaper walked past Theodore to address a group of guards who tensed and bowed. "From this point on, there will be no unauthorised executions. I must review each case; those whose souls have not been corrupted will be given over the authorities. Am I understood?"

The people looked at a loss between the Grim Reaper and the High Priest.

"I said," Kid pointedly repeated, causing the guards to yelp and take a step back. "Am I understood?"

"Yes Lord Death, sir!" The people said and saluted, before escorting the soul eater up into the Academy and towards the dungeons in a single file.

Satisfied, Kid walked up the stairs as well, careful to keep up a dignified appearance and not let his shoulders sag, no matter how he wanted to. He had no illusion on how keeping the soul eaters under lock and key was a controversial move that would only draw suspicion on him. He had to attempt the soul extraction as soon as possible.

There was no turning back now.

\*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*/

Have some much-needed Kid/Patty bonding, among other things.

In other news, riodoodle will no longer be beta-ing due to real life getting in the way. Best of luck with your studies!

Feedback is appreciated.